Seattle’s best burgers

So here’s a list of 20 best burgers in Seattle to satisfy a range of carnivores, from budget eaters to high-end foodies. It was compiled with help from our readers and Seattle Magazine. Sides range from gravy fries and pineapple shakes to tater tots, bacon jam and Beecher’s cheese.

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Seattle's best burgers range from a no-frills, counter-service patty for $1.25 to a luscious, half-pound mound of hand-ground chuck for nearly $20.

Seattle's best burgers range from a no-frills, counter-service patty for $1.25 to a luscious, half-pound mound of hand-ground chuck for nearly $20.

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1. <b>Ma'ono Fried Chicken & Whisky</b>: The chicken gets top billing, but the $19 Spring Hill burger, named after the restaurant's original name, is considered one of the best foodie burgers in Seattle. It's a half-pound of freshly ground, applewood grilled chuck, house-cured bacon, artisan cheeses and a grilled English muffin. A big pickle crowns the whole thing. In West Seattle. Image: <a href="http://maono.springhillnorthwest.com/">Ma'Ono website</a>. less

1. <b>Ma'ono Fried Chicken & Whisky</b>: The chicken gets top billing, but the $19 Spring Hill burger, named after the restaurant's original name, is considered one of the best foodie burgers in Seattle. It's ... more

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2. <b>Skillet Diner</b>: It was the bacon jam burger, with arugula and blue cheese, that put Skillet on Seattle's food map. It's at Skillet's truck and Capitol Hill diner (for $14), where you can order the "basic" version and add gravy and cheese sauce to the fries (poutine). Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/citoyen_du_monde_inc/6597312151/">Citoyen du Monde Inc.</a>, Creative Commons Flickr. less

2. <b>Skillet Diner</b>: It was the bacon jam burger, with arugula and blue cheese, that put Skillet on Seattle's food map. It's at Skillet's truck and Capitol Hill diner (for $14), where you can order the ... more

3. <b>Quinn's</b>: The $14 burger at this Capitol Hill food-fan pub features a half-pound patty, artisan bacon, white cheddar and a Macrina brioche bun. Seattle Magazine calls it one of the city's "best yuppie ... more

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4. <b>Dick's</b>: You'll get better burgers elsewhere, but standing at a Dick's Drive-In is a quintessential Seattle experience. Its menu and decor have changed little since it first opened in 1954. Think friendly service and cheap burgers (starting at $1.25), fries and shakes. Multiple locations; photo is in Edmonds. less

4. <b>Dick's</b>: You'll get better burgers elsewhere, but standing at a Dick's Drive-In is a quintessential Seattle experience. Its menu and decor have changed little since it first opened in 1954. Think ... more

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM

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Who needs a plate when you can sink your teeth into a <b>Dick's</b> burger wrapped in that signature foil and accompanied by the nearly always soggy fries? (Personal favorite: the Deluxe, $2.70). Photo: Adam Reitano, Seattle Magazine. Go <a href="http://seattlemag.com/article/25-best-burgers-seattle
">here</a> for Seattle Magazine's "25 Best Burgers in Seattle." less

Who needs a plate when you can sink your teeth into a <b>Dick's</b> burger wrapped in that signature foil and accompanied by the nearly always soggy fries? (Personal favorite: the Deluxe, $2.70). Photo: Adam ... more

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5. <b>Palace Kitchen</b>: The $15 Palace Burger Royale is a mainstay of this Tom Douglas restaurant. It features a half-pound of local, hand-ground chuck on a Dahlia Bakery onion bun. Optional cheese is, of course, artisan and local. In Belltown. Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/roland/21858466/">roland</a>, Creative Commons Flickr. less

5. <b>Palace Kitchen</b>: The $15 Palace Burger Royale is a mainstay of this Tom Douglas restaurant. It features a half-pound of local, hand-ground chuck on a Dahlia Bakery onion bun. Optional cheese is, of ... more

7. <b>Kidd Valley</b> is another local burger chain that has a lot of nostalgia for Seattleites. Burgers are a step above fast food, and the fried mushrooms, boysenberry shakes and garlic fries are a nice touch. Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jwalsh_/3244225287/">jwalsh</a>, Creative Commons Flickr. less

7. <b>Kidd Valley</b> is another local burger chain that has a lot of nostalgia for Seattleites. Burgers are a step above fast food, and the fried mushrooms, boysenberry shakes and garlic fries are a nice ... more

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8. <b>Local 360</b>: This local, sustainable and rustic Belltown eatery grinds its beef in-house for a burger worthy of its $12 ticket. You can add cheese and bacon for $3. Photo: <a href="http://blog.seattlepi.com/datenight/2011/02/02/local-360-a-new-local-favorite/">BrettAndMandyDateNight.com via seattlepi.com</a>. less

8. <b>Local 360</b>: This local, sustainable and rustic Belltown eatery grinds its beef in-house for a burger worthy of its $12 ticket. You can add cheese and bacon for $3. Photo: <a ... more

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9. <b>Scooter's Burgers</b>: This small, no-nonsense burger joint in Ballard is roughly in the same category as Kidd Valley and Red Mill (say some). And it has a lot of fans.

9. <b>Scooter's Burgers</b>: This small, no-nonsense burger joint in Ballard is roughly in the same category as Kidd Valley and Red Mill (say some). And it has a lot of fans.

12. <b>Spur Gastropub</b>: The $15 grass-fed burger at this Belltown eatery features some fancy ingredients: red onion jam, cheddar and thyme. Throw on some pork belly if that's your thing. In Belltown. Photo: ... more

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11. <b>The Swinery:</b> This sustainable butcher and meat shop does some good burgers. The one pictured here was hailed by Seattle Magazine as "the most epic cheeseburger" ($9). In West Seattle. Photo: Hayley Young, Seattle Magazine. Seattle Magazine. Go <a href="http://seattlemag.com/article/25-best-burgers-seattle
">here</a> for Seattle Magazine's "25 Best Burgers in Seattle." less

11. <b>The Swinery:</b> This sustainable butcher and meat shop does some good burgers. The one pictured here was hailed by Seattle Magazine as "the most epic cheeseburger" ($9). In West Seattle. Photo: Hayley ... more

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10. Sexy, speakeasy-inspired <b>Tavern Law</b> has more than cocktails. Created by the chefs behind Spur Gastropub, it also has a similarly gourmet burger, with grass-fed beef, red wine onion jam and provolone. It's $15; add some pork belly for $4. In Capitol Hill. Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/erocsid/6998516247/">erocsid</a>, Creative Commons Flickr. less

10. Sexy, speakeasy-inspired <b>Tavern Law</b> has more than cocktails. Created by the chefs behind Spur Gastropub, it also has a similarly gourmet burger, with grass-fed beef, red wine onion jam and ... more

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13. <b>Uneeda Burger</b>: A Fremont burger shack with upscale beef. You can get all-natural Painted Hills beef, or pay a few extra dollars for the all-grass-fed stuff. The classic is a $4 quarter-pounder, while signature burgers include such goodies as porcinis, black truffle salt and caramelized onions. Photo: Hayley Young, Seattle Magazine. Go <a href="http://seattlemag.com/article/25-best-burgers-seattle
">here</a> for Seattle Magazine's "25 Best Burgers in Seattle." less

13. <b>Uneeda Burger</b>: A Fremont burger shack with upscale beef. You can get all-natural Painted Hills beef, or pay a few extra dollars for the all-grass-fed stuff. The classic is a $4 quarter-pounder, ... more

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14. <b>Katsu Burger</b>: A Japanese take on an American classic from the creator of sustainable sushi shop Mashiko. You'll get a deep-fried patty dipped in tempura batter and coated in panko crumbs. In a Georgetown strip mall. Photo courtesy Katsu Burger. less

14. <b>Katsu Burger</b>: A Japanese take on an American classic from the creator of sustainable sushi shop Mashiko. You'll get a deep-fried patty dipped in tempura batter and coated in panko crumbs. In a ... more

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<b>Katsu Burger</b> sides also have Japanese flavors - there's nori fries, wasabi coleslaw and a green-tea-pineapple shake (the current offering). You can also get a tofu burger katsu-style. Photo: Jocelyn Lui, courtesy Katsu Burger. less

<b>Katsu Burger</b> sides also have Japanese flavors - there's nori fries, wasabi coleslaw and a green-tea-pineapple shake (the current offering). You can also get a tofu burger katsu-style. Photo: Jocelyn ... more

15. <b>Lunchbox Laboratory</b>: Casual, kitchy decor compliments the burgers here, for which you can choose your own meat (including pork-duck "dork") and such toppings as honey-cured bacon, pineapple mayo and ... more

<b>Lunchbox Laboratory</b>, part two: Almost forgot. You can get tater tots with your burgers! Plus mini beef corndogs called "dogsticks." Photo: <a ... more

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16. <b>Two Bells Tavern</b>: The burgers have to be good, if no one cares that they don't come with fries or a bun. This longtime Belltown joint has been serving up tasty, beefy burgers for years - on a sourdough roll with your choice of great sides (coleslaw, beans and potato salad). Photo: Google Street View. less

16. <b>Two Bells Tavern</b>: The burgers have to be good, if no one cares that they don't come with fries or a bun. This longtime Belltown joint has been serving up tasty, beefy burgers for years - on a ... more

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17. <b>Zippy's Giant Burgers</b> is an old-fashioned, mom-and-pop burger joint in White Center with a lot of fans. It's also got the "King Lou Lou," a monstrosity of four patties, four cheese slices, eight bacon pieces, and a cheeseburger topper. Seattle Magazine dubbed it among the "best over-the-top burgers." Photo: Becky LeVeck, Seattle Magazine. Go <a href="http://seattlemag.com/article/25-best-burgers-seattle
">here</a> for Seattle Magazine's "25 Best Burgers in Seattle." less

17. <b>Zippy's Giant Burgers</b> is an old-fashioned, mom-and-pop burger joint in White Center with a lot of fans. It's also got the "King Lou Lou," a monstrosity of four patties, four cheese slices, eight ... more

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If you're not into a mountain of beef, <b>Zippy's</b> also has a bean burger. (Plus regularly sized beef burgers).

If you're not into a mountain of beef, <b>Zippy's</b> also has a bean burger. (Plus regularly sized beef burgers).

Photo: Seattle Post-Intelligencer

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18. <b>Burgermaster</b> has been around Seattle since the '50s and still has a classic diner feel. A basic burger is under $5, and you can get hot apple pie with ice cream. Multiple locations. Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/accidentalhedonist/6230792270/">Accidental Hedonist</a>, Creative Commons Flickr. less

18. <b>Burgermaster</b> has been around Seattle since the '50s and still has a classic diner feel. A basic burger is under $5, and you can get hot apple pie with ice cream. Multiple locations. Photo: <a ... more

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19. <b>Five Guys Burgers and Fries</b> is a popular national chain in Northgate. They're known for free toppings (jalapenos, green peppers, grilled mushrooms, etc.), plus free peanuts while you wait. Basic burger is under $5. Photo: Rina Jordan, Seattle Magazine. Go <a href="http://seattlemag.com/article/25-best-burgers-seattle
">here</a> for Seattle Magazine's "25 Best Burgers in Seattle." less

19. <b>Five Guys Burgers and Fries</b> is a popular national chain in Northgate. They're known for free toppings (jalapenos, green peppers, grilled mushrooms, etc.), plus free peanuts while you wait. Basic ... more